MOHAMMED ABDELAZIZ THE ALGERIAN’S MAN IN THE WESTERN SAHARA CONFLICT
BY : TAOUFIQ GAZOULIT
Mohammed Abdelaziz, is the secretary general of the Polsario front (a Spanish acronym for the popular front for the liberation of Sagui el hamra and Rio de Oro), and the president of the Sahraoui Arab democratic republic (RASD) since 1976. He comes from a sahraoui Bedouin family, from the tribal point of view, he belongs to the minority R’guibat Fokra, an eastern Reguibat sub tribe, his father who lives in Morocco with his family was an active fighter of the Moroccan Liberation Army, and then he joined the Moroccan Royal Army, now he is a member of the royal advisory council for Saharan affairs “CORCAS”.
Abdelaziz was imposed by Algiers, and then nominated polisario’s secretary –general after El-ouali Mustapha Sayed was killed in action in Mauritania. In an interview with the European strategic intelligence and security (ESISC) commander Lahbib Ayoub a founding member of the Polisario, who returned to Morocco, explained that Algeria had chosen Mohammed Abdelaziz as leader of the polisario, although he was not one of the main organization’s founders “we could refuse them (the Algerians) nothing, they were giving us everything, or almost everything, he always considered himself to be their man”
Opposition against Abdelaziz policies within the Polisario has taken various forms. KHAT AL –SHAID (line of the martyr) a faction within the polisario, is based in the sahraoui refugee camps in Tindouf and has supporters and members in Mauritania, Spain and a number of European countries. This organization announced its existence in 2004. It accuses Mohammed Abdelaziz of the following:-Propagating corruption, clientism, tribalism and bargaining with the sufferings of the Sahraoui people.-Having no strategy to face the international developments- Refusing to hold the national congress demanded by Khat al-shahid,where the Polisario leadership should be accountable for its policy, and failure in terms of reaching a settlement of the western Sahara issue after a long three decades of sufferings of sahraoui refugees in the Tindouf camps-The undemocratic way of running the polisario front
Mahjoub Salek, the spokesman for the movement in an interview with TEL QUEL magazine explains that it represents itself as an alternative to the current Polisario front leadership. (See TELQUEL magazine/Morocco n 243-2006).Recently, in the Spanish capital Madrid a new opposition organization to the Polisario was established, introducing itself as a third party in the conflict, Hamdi Ali beeba the spokesman of the newly sahraoui organization , in his press conference in Madrid with the Spanish media on the23may 2007said “it is a must to defend all sahraouis whether those who defend the Moroccan position ,or those who sympathise with the Polisario” he described his organization as a civil one, totally against any military solution. Although he refuses to disclose the number of members of this sahraoui organization,, but he made it clear that members in question are living either in Morocco, Mauritania , or in the canary islands in Spain, in addition to some active members of the polisario.In this respect the Spanish agency press “Europa press” which covered this press conference added that Mr Hamdi beeba is an active member of the Polisario, and he is a relative to the president of so called “The parliament of RASD” Mahfoud Ali Beeba.
The secretary general of the polisario front Mohammed abdelaziz remained the “elected” president of the sparsely recognized Sahraoui democratic republic since 1976. He and a small number of his entourage of other leaders of the Polisario control the Tindouf refugee camps.The Polisario has been feeling internal pressure since the 1991ceasefire. Thousands of sahraouis living in the refugees camps are kept against their will, and do not enjoy the basics of freedom of expression. youngsters who have never been allowed to visit nor to join their families in the Sahara rail in frustration, according to Mrs Khadija Hamdi the wife of the leader of the Polisario “young sahraouis started to get tired of living in the refugee camps” she added in an interview with a Spanish newspaper “youngsters do not share the same goals, nor the same preoccupations as their parents (see Spanish newspaper:”Levante”08/1/2007) .
According to the report by The European strategic Intelligence and security (ESISC), lack of democracy and an oppressive climate under the leadership of the polisario, has led to several members leaving the refugee camps in Tindouf most of them joined Morocco, and the rest opted to go abroad .Polisario leaders who have left the camps for Morocco, are now actively campaigning for Moroccan sovereignty over western Sahara. Lahbib Ayoub the prominent former polisario commander, who was in conflict with Mohammed Abdelaziz long before he decided to join Morocco, disclosed the main reason behind his decision to return to Morocco, he said that abdelaziz paid him a visit and all of the sudden told him that Algiers came up with a project aiming at partitioning the Sahara, and that polisario front could do nothing about it. That statement made Lahbib ayoub think seriously of returning to where he belongs. This statement made by the former polsario commander Ayoub to ESISC ,was made public by the former United Nations secretary general Kofi Anan , In his report of 19 February 2002, he informed the security council on the visit of the Algerian president to Houston on 2 November 2001during which he told the UN secretary general personal envoy James Baker that Algeria and the polisario are ready to discuss and negotiate the splitting of the territory as a political solution to the dispute over western Sahara. This initiative proves Algiers direct involvement in the conflict
More than 30 years as the leader of the separatist movement strategically backed by the Algerian political leadership, and totally controlled by the Algerian military intelligent services. Abdelaziz can not claim that his movement is the sole and legitimate representative of sahraouis, particularly that in practical terms over two third of sahraouis do live under Moroccan sovereignty, and they fully support the substantial autonomy project proposed by the King of Morocco. Even those living as refugees in Tindouf camps, south-west of Algeria back the autonomy seeing it as a solution that guaranties their political, economic and social rights. Abdelaziz led the Polsario over the last three decades or so to a number of miscalculations, failures, strategic differences within the Polisario, and most of all to the sufferings of sahraoui refugees:
-The polisario remains a totalitarian military and political movement, with single party system, sole institutions, with everything wrapped up in one-track thinking. From inside the Polisario reports are talking about more than 6000 sahraoui children, and adolescents are currently living in Cuba, in most of the cases against the will of their parents, and under the pretext of schooling, some of them are subject to obligatory military training.- Sahraoui Arab democratic republic, such a republic that does not exist on any territory, but in Algeria. It has not attribute of sovereignty, exists only on internet and in fictitious institutions on the territory of Algeria.- postponing the polsario congress, confirms the existence of vital divergences within the polisario notably following the latest developments in the Western Sahara issue.-the war in the Sahara lasted 16 years from 1976 to 1991, the Polisario lost the war.-Since war brought about no solution; the UN tried to organize a referendum based upon identification. Nevertheless the UN became aware of the fact that the referendum is impossible to carry out since sahraouis do not live only in Morocco, but also in Algeria, Mauritania, and Mali. This means that they should be a change of these borders (this not acceptable by countries concerned) in order to organize a just and fair referendum. The UN general secretary confirmed that the organization of a referendum is impossible politically and technically.
According to these facts, and to the deteriorating of the social, economic status of sahraoui refugees under the close supervision of the Polisario, and the control of the guerrilla intelligent service of Abdelaziz, in addition to the open criticism, and opposition from within the polisario. Abdelaziz should agree to operate democratically, and call for a national congress to elect a new leader who is ready to enter direct negotiations with Morocco.Abdelaziz should accept the opening of the camps of Tindouf, so that any person or family willing, and hoping to return to the Sahara is free to act accordingly.Abdelaziz should accept that any solution to the Western Sahara issue can only be political, and negotiated as the UN Security Council stipulated in its resolution.
Facts on the ground show that the Polsario is considerably weakened by the defections since 1991.Over 10 000 sahraouis (political, military leaders and refugees) have joined Morocco. Mohammed Abdelaziz does not seem to be in a position to renounce its non-stop claim of independence because he already put his personal destiny in the hands of the Algerian regime, when he opted to consider himself as their man; and subsequently put into practice the Algerian politics concerning western Sahara, unfortunately at the expense of the wellbeing, and future of sahraoui refugees, who are willing to return to the Western Sahara provided they live in dignity. Abdelaziz knows as much as Algiers does that Morocco is ready to discuss a status of broad autonomy for the Sahara, but will only accept a solution within the Moroccan context.
mercredi 30 mai 2007
mercredi 23 mai 2007
THE STUBBORNNESS AND FAILUREOF THE ALGERIAN PRESIDENT
THE STUBBORNNESS AND FAILURE
OF THE ALGERIAN PRESIDENT
BOUTEFLIKA’S COMMITMENTS TO THOSE WHO BROUGHT HIM
BACK TO THE POWER NOT TO ALLOW THE ISLAMIC
SALVATION FRONT IN THE POLITICAL SPHERE, NOT
TO INTERFERE IN THE OIL BUDGET, NOR IN THE
WESTERN SAHARA ISSUE
BY: TAOUFIQ GAZOULIT
Mr Abdelaziz Bouteflika seems to have respected up to now the three main commitments towards the generals of the Algerian intelligent army services, to remain the president of his country, while Moroccans have been optimistic that the son of Oujda would play a constructive role in order to help the process of reaching a political settlement to the Western Sahara conflict. Unfortunately Bouteflika surprised the Moroccan national opinion, when he embraced rather negative policies against the endless Moroccan attempts to put an end to such crisis that lasted over three decades.
Bouteflika became the seventh Algerian president on the 15th of April 1999, ever since he enjoyed the support of the army establishment which made out of him a fairly week head of state, he knows that the army was behind the coup d’etat against the former president Benjdid, and the elimination of President Boudiaf, the army even got rid of two other presidents Ali Kafi and Lyamin Zerwal.
BOUTEFLIKA AND WESTERN SAHARA
The present deadlock is basically a result to the Algerian non commitment to its explicit statement, which says that it does not consider itself as part of the conflict. Facts on the ground show unfortunately that Algeria is the main and strategic supporter of the non elected and non democratic polisario.
In his report of 19 February 2002,the former secretary general of the UN Kofi Anan informed the security council on the visit of the Algerian president to Houston on 2 November 2001during which he told the UN secretary general personal envoy James Baker that Algeria and the polisario are ready to discuss and negotiate the splitting of the territory as a political solution to the dispute over western Sahara. This initiative proves Algiers direct involvement in the conflict .In addition, Algeria continues under the leadership of Bouteflika to exert a direct control on the refugee camps, particularly by strictly controlling and limiting the movement of sahraoui refugees. Algeria and its president should be held responsible for the non-implementation of the convention on the refugees’ status of 1951, by virtue of which any contracting state, which is Algeria in the case of sahraoui refugees on its soil, gives the refugees living regularly in its territory the right to choose to remain, or to move freely. If Bouteflika is willing ,as he claims ,to help sahraoui refugees in its own territory in Tindouf, then he ought to instruct his army to lift the military and security blockade imposed around the camps, he would then find out that Sahraoui refugees will automatically exert the self –determination by walking from the camps and returning to their homeland in Morocco.
In the 28 February 2006 Algeria took part in the festivities of the Polisario for the 30th anniversary of its creation, there is no doubt that polisario would not organize such a big military parade in Tifariti without the approval of the army approval. For the same occasion Bouteflika seized the opportunity to send a message to the leadership of polisario where he described Morocco being “the colonizer country”.
When it comes to the recent developments concerning the Moroccan substantial autonomy proposal. The secretary general personal envoy for Sahara Van Walsum stated (in his press conference at the headquarter of the UN, after presenting his report to the UN chief) that the Moroccan proposal to grant substantial autonomy to the western Sahara “was the result of an extended political process of national and international consultations” .As to the role of Algeria in the conflict Mr Walsum recognized the pre-eminent role of Algeria, “Algeria has in this whole dossier (Sahara issue) played an absolutely pre-eminent dominant role ever since1975” this is the third time that a senior UN official dealing directly with the western Sahara issue that recognized in a diplomatic Worthing to what extent the Algerians are directly involved in the western Sahara dispute ,and even in the decision making on behalf of the separatist movement called polisario
Despite the Algerian continuous sabotage since the election of Abdelaziz Bouteflika ,as the president of his country sahraouis support the autonomy project whether they are in, Semara, Laayoun , boujdour, Dakhla, and the rest of the territory, and even in the Tindouf camps where the overwhelming majority of refugees back the Moroccan substantial autonomy plan seeing in it a solution that guaranties political ,economic, and social rights
BOUTEFLICA’S ALGERIAN OPPONENTS TO HIS POLICIES
TOWARDS THE WESTERN SAHARA CONLICT
During the last decade a number of Algerian politicians, and even former policy makers ,and military generals have expressed openly their total disagreement with Boutaflika’s politics towards the future of western Sahara .Anouar Haddam one of the leaders of the Islamic Salvation Front told “ALKHABAR” a daily Algerian newspaper “ Sahraouis would never agree to separate themselves from Morocco”, as to Abbassi Madani,who in a number of occasions expressed his refusal to the dispersion and the splitting of the north African countries, made it loud and clear when he was interviewed by “ALJAZIRA”network TV channel ,and said “as far as the western Sahara issue, we believe that Moroccans and Sahraouis are one people, we refuse what is called western Sahara”. In the same respect Louisa Hanoun the general secretary of the Algerian labour party said “the western Sahara issue is an artificial problem” she added “Morocco is the only Maghreban country that is facing external plans ton split its territories”.
The former Algerian prime minister Abdelhamid Ibrahimi, insists that the leadership of the army is behind the dispute over western Sahara dispute, in his latest interview with the daily newspaper “ATAJDID” on the 12 December 2006 he said “the autonomy plan was discussed when I was prime minister with president Benjdid, provided that Morocco preserves its sovereignty over its territory, including foreign and defence policies. The agreement was made, and president Benjdid did not refuse”
When it comes to the army leadership it is worth mentioning that the former general and defence minister Khalid Nezar advocates a political solution to the conflict, he said “the settlement of western Sahara conflict should be achieved through the application of such substantial autonomy as proposed by king Mohamed VI”
It seems that although the political leaders and most of the former generals of the Algerian army are explicitly against their president’s policy towards the Sahara, Bouteflika is determined to follow the instructions of the generals with the aim to achieving the strategic goals as seen by the Algerian army intelligence leadership which have nothing to do with the wellbeing of sahrauois
THE FAILURE OF BOUTEFLIKA AT HOME AND ABROAD
Bouteflika undoubtedly failed to promote democracy in his own country. He failed to put an end to “terrorism» in his country. This becomes now a threat to the whole area of North Africa. Bouteflika is not able to keep up with the new world changes, under his political leadership Algeria failed in the Sahara dispute, and Morocco under the leadership and the wisdom of his young King Mohamed vi managed to reverse the situation to its advantage, while Algeria is experiencing an embarrassing diplomatic fiasco in the western Sahara issue.
The Sahara conflict in my view is a result of the immature political practices by the regime in Algeria since 1975, which is obviously maintained by the present president .the most striking and dangerous side of the Algerian politics remains the transition from being an “observer” to being an aggressive partner, sabotaging any peace efforts initiated by Morocco.
Morocco is not forced nor obliged to deal directly with Algeria, or any other country giving itself the right to speak on behalf of sahraoui people. Morocco made its strategic choice for a substantial autonomy, based on dignity, fairness, and most of all on its legal and historical relationship with Western Sahara.
.
Algeria should abandon its unconvincing non- stop allegations, in order to pave the way and help to create a healthy atmosphere towards a settlement to the Western Sahara. Having said that Algeria and the polisario more likely would continue to create obstacles to the peace process advocated by the UN Security Council, although the polisario agreed to enter direct negotiations with Morocco, and Algeria welcomed the Security Council resolution
OF THE ALGERIAN PRESIDENT
BOUTEFLIKA’S COMMITMENTS TO THOSE WHO BROUGHT HIM
BACK TO THE POWER NOT TO ALLOW THE ISLAMIC
SALVATION FRONT IN THE POLITICAL SPHERE, NOT
TO INTERFERE IN THE OIL BUDGET, NOR IN THE
WESTERN SAHARA ISSUE
BY: TAOUFIQ GAZOULIT
Mr Abdelaziz Bouteflika seems to have respected up to now the three main commitments towards the generals of the Algerian intelligent army services, to remain the president of his country, while Moroccans have been optimistic that the son of Oujda would play a constructive role in order to help the process of reaching a political settlement to the Western Sahara conflict. Unfortunately Bouteflika surprised the Moroccan national opinion, when he embraced rather negative policies against the endless Moroccan attempts to put an end to such crisis that lasted over three decades.
Bouteflika became the seventh Algerian president on the 15th of April 1999, ever since he enjoyed the support of the army establishment which made out of him a fairly week head of state, he knows that the army was behind the coup d’etat against the former president Benjdid, and the elimination of President Boudiaf, the army even got rid of two other presidents Ali Kafi and Lyamin Zerwal.
BOUTEFLIKA AND WESTERN SAHARA
The present deadlock is basically a result to the Algerian non commitment to its explicit statement, which says that it does not consider itself as part of the conflict. Facts on the ground show unfortunately that Algeria is the main and strategic supporter of the non elected and non democratic polisario.
In his report of 19 February 2002,the former secretary general of the UN Kofi Anan informed the security council on the visit of the Algerian president to Houston on 2 November 2001during which he told the UN secretary general personal envoy James Baker that Algeria and the polisario are ready to discuss and negotiate the splitting of the territory as a political solution to the dispute over western Sahara. This initiative proves Algiers direct involvement in the conflict .In addition, Algeria continues under the leadership of Bouteflika to exert a direct control on the refugee camps, particularly by strictly controlling and limiting the movement of sahraoui refugees. Algeria and its president should be held responsible for the non-implementation of the convention on the refugees’ status of 1951, by virtue of which any contracting state, which is Algeria in the case of sahraoui refugees on its soil, gives the refugees living regularly in its territory the right to choose to remain, or to move freely. If Bouteflika is willing ,as he claims ,to help sahraoui refugees in its own territory in Tindouf, then he ought to instruct his army to lift the military and security blockade imposed around the camps, he would then find out that Sahraoui refugees will automatically exert the self –determination by walking from the camps and returning to their homeland in Morocco.
In the 28 February 2006 Algeria took part in the festivities of the Polisario for the 30th anniversary of its creation, there is no doubt that polisario would not organize such a big military parade in Tifariti without the approval of the army approval. For the same occasion Bouteflika seized the opportunity to send a message to the leadership of polisario where he described Morocco being “the colonizer country”.
When it comes to the recent developments concerning the Moroccan substantial autonomy proposal. The secretary general personal envoy for Sahara Van Walsum stated (in his press conference at the headquarter of the UN, after presenting his report to the UN chief) that the Moroccan proposal to grant substantial autonomy to the western Sahara “was the result of an extended political process of national and international consultations” .As to the role of Algeria in the conflict Mr Walsum recognized the pre-eminent role of Algeria, “Algeria has in this whole dossier (Sahara issue) played an absolutely pre-eminent dominant role ever since1975” this is the third time that a senior UN official dealing directly with the western Sahara issue that recognized in a diplomatic Worthing to what extent the Algerians are directly involved in the western Sahara dispute ,and even in the decision making on behalf of the separatist movement called polisario
Despite the Algerian continuous sabotage since the election of Abdelaziz Bouteflika ,as the president of his country sahraouis support the autonomy project whether they are in, Semara, Laayoun , boujdour, Dakhla, and the rest of the territory, and even in the Tindouf camps where the overwhelming majority of refugees back the Moroccan substantial autonomy plan seeing in it a solution that guaranties political ,economic, and social rights
BOUTEFLICA’S ALGERIAN OPPONENTS TO HIS POLICIES
TOWARDS THE WESTERN SAHARA CONLICT
During the last decade a number of Algerian politicians, and even former policy makers ,and military generals have expressed openly their total disagreement with Boutaflika’s politics towards the future of western Sahara .Anouar Haddam one of the leaders of the Islamic Salvation Front told “ALKHABAR” a daily Algerian newspaper “ Sahraouis would never agree to separate themselves from Morocco”, as to Abbassi Madani,who in a number of occasions expressed his refusal to the dispersion and the splitting of the north African countries, made it loud and clear when he was interviewed by “ALJAZIRA”network TV channel ,and said “as far as the western Sahara issue, we believe that Moroccans and Sahraouis are one people, we refuse what is called western Sahara”. In the same respect Louisa Hanoun the general secretary of the Algerian labour party said “the western Sahara issue is an artificial problem” she added “Morocco is the only Maghreban country that is facing external plans ton split its territories”.
The former Algerian prime minister Abdelhamid Ibrahimi, insists that the leadership of the army is behind the dispute over western Sahara dispute, in his latest interview with the daily newspaper “ATAJDID” on the 12 December 2006 he said “the autonomy plan was discussed when I was prime minister with president Benjdid, provided that Morocco preserves its sovereignty over its territory, including foreign and defence policies. The agreement was made, and president Benjdid did not refuse”
When it comes to the army leadership it is worth mentioning that the former general and defence minister Khalid Nezar advocates a political solution to the conflict, he said “the settlement of western Sahara conflict should be achieved through the application of such substantial autonomy as proposed by king Mohamed VI”
It seems that although the political leaders and most of the former generals of the Algerian army are explicitly against their president’s policy towards the Sahara, Bouteflika is determined to follow the instructions of the generals with the aim to achieving the strategic goals as seen by the Algerian army intelligence leadership which have nothing to do with the wellbeing of sahrauois
THE FAILURE OF BOUTEFLIKA AT HOME AND ABROAD
Bouteflika undoubtedly failed to promote democracy in his own country. He failed to put an end to “terrorism» in his country. This becomes now a threat to the whole area of North Africa. Bouteflika is not able to keep up with the new world changes, under his political leadership Algeria failed in the Sahara dispute, and Morocco under the leadership and the wisdom of his young King Mohamed vi managed to reverse the situation to its advantage, while Algeria is experiencing an embarrassing diplomatic fiasco in the western Sahara issue.
The Sahara conflict in my view is a result of the immature political practices by the regime in Algeria since 1975, which is obviously maintained by the present president .the most striking and dangerous side of the Algerian politics remains the transition from being an “observer” to being an aggressive partner, sabotaging any peace efforts initiated by Morocco.
Morocco is not forced nor obliged to deal directly with Algeria, or any other country giving itself the right to speak on behalf of sahraoui people. Morocco made its strategic choice for a substantial autonomy, based on dignity, fairness, and most of all on its legal and historical relationship with Western Sahara.
.
Algeria should abandon its unconvincing non- stop allegations, in order to pave the way and help to create a healthy atmosphere towards a settlement to the Western Sahara. Having said that Algeria and the polisario more likely would continue to create obstacles to the peace process advocated by the UN Security Council, although the polisario agreed to enter direct negotiations with Morocco, and Algeria welcomed the Security Council resolution
jeudi 17 mai 2007
an open letter to the algerian ambassador in Washington
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ALGERIAN AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON
BY: TAOUFIQ GAZOULIT
A letter to the editor of the American daily newspaper “The Washington Times” was sent by the Algerian counsellor at the Algerian embassy in Washington, concerning an article published by “the Washington times, about “improving prospects in western Sahara», and obviously the direct involvement of Algiers in the conflict.
Mr Ameur Betka, who was more likely instructed by his boss the ambassador to answer back the American newspaper, insisted wrongly on the fact that his country sees the conflict as “a matter of decolonization opposing the people of Western Sahara to the kingdom of Morocco”The Algerian diplomat should have, in his letter, explained to what extent his country is responsible for the present deadlock, which in the view of the international community, is a result to the Algerian non commitment to its explicit statement, which says that it does not consider itself as part of the dispute, facts on the ground shows unfortunately that Algeria, since mid-seventies was keen to hamper, systematically the completion of Morocco’s territorial integrity. Algeria’s involvement in the Sahara issue has taken various forms: military engagement against Morocco, financial and logistic support to the polisario front, mobilization of its diplomatic services against the territorial integrity of Morocco, in addition to hosting the Polisario on its terriotory.Algeria sponsored in 1976 the creation of an alleged republic, and opted for an all-out campaign to make world countries recognize this fictitious entity, that does not have any of the characteristics of a sovereign state .
It is worth reminding the Algerians that when the Algerian question was being examined by the UN general assembly in 1961.Morocco was one of the first to defend Algeria’s territorial integrity. It was this same principle of territorial integrity which Morocco evoked to regain the Sahara by basing itself not only on history, and law but also on the wishes of the population. Morocco had always possessed Western Sahara in the same way as its northern provinces.
It is obvious that Morocco seeks a final settlement to this dispute, which is in a way a result of the cold war and the inter- Arab differences, this conflict did not help to effectively build the Maghreb Union. The dispute over Western Sahara did not help either the promotion of democracy in the region nor making use of natural resources for the people of the region. The aim behind the Moroccan proposal is that Sahraouis claims will be satisfied, and Morocco remains sovereign over its southern territories.
When it comes to the UN, The secretary general personal envoy for Sahara Van Walsum stated (in his press conference at the headquarter of the UN, after presenting his report to the UN chief) that the Moroccan proposal to grant substantial autonomy to the western Sahara “was the result of an extended political process of national and international consultations” whereas the polisario proposal, the UN envoy added “it is consistent with polisario well known positions” .As far as the role of Algeria in the conflict Mr Walsum recognized the pre-eminent role of Algeria, “Algeria has in this whole dossier (Sahara issue) played an absolutely pre-eminent ,dominant role ever since1975” this is the third time that a senior UN official dealing directly with the western Sahara issue that recognized in a diplomatic Worthing to what extent the Algerians are directly involved in the western Sahara dispute ,and even in the decision making on behalf of the separatist movement called polisario while Algiers keeps insisting that “it is not a part in the conflict”. The Security Council had consistently made it clear that it would not impose a solution to the question of Western Sahara, which had led him to the conclusion that there were only two options: either indefinite prolongation of the impasse or negotiations without preconditions between the parties aimed at achieving a mutually acceptable political solution. It is obvious that the Moroccan opinion public, and the international community are “fed up” with the Algerian double standard policy towards the Western Sahara issue…sometimes it presents itself as a concerned party, other times as an important actor, or as a party in the settlement of the dispute. If Algeria is willing (as it claims ) to help sahraoui refugees in its own territory in Tindouf, then it has to lift the military and security blockade imposed around the camps, it would then find out that Sahraoui refugees will automatically exert the self –determination by walking from the camps and returning to their homeland in Morocco.
I would like to remind the Algerian diplomat ,and his boss the ambassador that not only the security council called for direct negotiations, but took note of the Moroccan proposal presented by Morocco to the UN general secretary “ welcome credible and serious Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards resolution” this is in my view an implicit recognition that the Moroccan proposal is the only and unique one to be taken into consideration as a basis for any direct negotiations ,whereas the Polisario proposal did not bring any new elements nor practical alternative to the present deadlock
Algeria should abandon its old dreams, and stop its non- stop allegations which are in so any respects unconvincing, in order to pave the way, and help to create a healthy atmosphere towards a settlement to the Western Sahara. Having said that i know as much as the international community does that Algeria and the polisario would continue to create obstacles to the peace process advocated by the UN Security Council, although the polisario agreed to enter direct negotiations with Morocco, and Algeria welcomed the Security Council resolution
The Moroccan position is unequivocal; the Western Sahara is an integral part of the Kingdom of Morocco, whether Algeria and polisario come to term with the UN Security Council resolution or not.
BY: TAOUFIQ GAZOULIT
A letter to the editor of the American daily newspaper “The Washington Times” was sent by the Algerian counsellor at the Algerian embassy in Washington, concerning an article published by “the Washington times, about “improving prospects in western Sahara», and obviously the direct involvement of Algiers in the conflict.
Mr Ameur Betka, who was more likely instructed by his boss the ambassador to answer back the American newspaper, insisted wrongly on the fact that his country sees the conflict as “a matter of decolonization opposing the people of Western Sahara to the kingdom of Morocco”The Algerian diplomat should have, in his letter, explained to what extent his country is responsible for the present deadlock, which in the view of the international community, is a result to the Algerian non commitment to its explicit statement, which says that it does not consider itself as part of the dispute, facts on the ground shows unfortunately that Algeria, since mid-seventies was keen to hamper, systematically the completion of Morocco’s territorial integrity. Algeria’s involvement in the Sahara issue has taken various forms: military engagement against Morocco, financial and logistic support to the polisario front, mobilization of its diplomatic services against the territorial integrity of Morocco, in addition to hosting the Polisario on its terriotory.Algeria sponsored in 1976 the creation of an alleged republic, and opted for an all-out campaign to make world countries recognize this fictitious entity, that does not have any of the characteristics of a sovereign state .
It is worth reminding the Algerians that when the Algerian question was being examined by the UN general assembly in 1961.Morocco was one of the first to defend Algeria’s territorial integrity. It was this same principle of territorial integrity which Morocco evoked to regain the Sahara by basing itself not only on history, and law but also on the wishes of the population. Morocco had always possessed Western Sahara in the same way as its northern provinces.
It is obvious that Morocco seeks a final settlement to this dispute, which is in a way a result of the cold war and the inter- Arab differences, this conflict did not help to effectively build the Maghreb Union. The dispute over Western Sahara did not help either the promotion of democracy in the region nor making use of natural resources for the people of the region. The aim behind the Moroccan proposal is that Sahraouis claims will be satisfied, and Morocco remains sovereign over its southern territories.
When it comes to the UN, The secretary general personal envoy for Sahara Van Walsum stated (in his press conference at the headquarter of the UN, after presenting his report to the UN chief) that the Moroccan proposal to grant substantial autonomy to the western Sahara “was the result of an extended political process of national and international consultations” whereas the polisario proposal, the UN envoy added “it is consistent with polisario well known positions” .As far as the role of Algeria in the conflict Mr Walsum recognized the pre-eminent role of Algeria, “Algeria has in this whole dossier (Sahara issue) played an absolutely pre-eminent ,dominant role ever since1975” this is the third time that a senior UN official dealing directly with the western Sahara issue that recognized in a diplomatic Worthing to what extent the Algerians are directly involved in the western Sahara dispute ,and even in the decision making on behalf of the separatist movement called polisario while Algiers keeps insisting that “it is not a part in the conflict”. The Security Council had consistently made it clear that it would not impose a solution to the question of Western Sahara, which had led him to the conclusion that there were only two options: either indefinite prolongation of the impasse or negotiations without preconditions between the parties aimed at achieving a mutually acceptable political solution. It is obvious that the Moroccan opinion public, and the international community are “fed up” with the Algerian double standard policy towards the Western Sahara issue…sometimes it presents itself as a concerned party, other times as an important actor, or as a party in the settlement of the dispute. If Algeria is willing (as it claims ) to help sahraoui refugees in its own territory in Tindouf, then it has to lift the military and security blockade imposed around the camps, it would then find out that Sahraoui refugees will automatically exert the self –determination by walking from the camps and returning to their homeland in Morocco.
I would like to remind the Algerian diplomat ,and his boss the ambassador that not only the security council called for direct negotiations, but took note of the Moroccan proposal presented by Morocco to the UN general secretary “ welcome credible and serious Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards resolution” this is in my view an implicit recognition that the Moroccan proposal is the only and unique one to be taken into consideration as a basis for any direct negotiations ,whereas the Polisario proposal did not bring any new elements nor practical alternative to the present deadlock
Algeria should abandon its old dreams, and stop its non- stop allegations which are in so any respects unconvincing, in order to pave the way, and help to create a healthy atmosphere towards a settlement to the Western Sahara. Having said that i know as much as the international community does that Algeria and the polisario would continue to create obstacles to the peace process advocated by the UN Security Council, although the polisario agreed to enter direct negotiations with Morocco, and Algeria welcomed the Security Council resolution
The Moroccan position is unequivocal; the Western Sahara is an integral part of the Kingdom of Morocco, whether Algeria and polisario come to term with the UN Security Council resolution or not.
mardi 15 mai 2007
The polisario propaganda machine and the reality of the latest events in the kingdom of Morocco
THE POLISARIO PROPAGANDA MACHINE
AND THE REALITY OF THE LATEST EVENTS
IN THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO
BY: MOULAY AHMED MAOUELAININ
I have read the statement concerning the recent demonstrations which took place in few universities in the Kingdom of Morocco, signed by the president of the (ASVDH).
It is unfortunate that the statement, issued in EL-AYOUN, on monday10, 2007 did not explain the reasons behind these incidents. First of all the recent confrontation at the Rachidia, Agadir, and even Casablanca universities has involved sahraoui students, and amazighi students and others, they all opted to use violence against each other, to express their political differences, in fact the Moroccan police have kept low profile, until incidents in question got violent to the point that security and students life was endangered.
Your statement is seen as a purely propaganda for sahraoui separatists whether they live in the territory, or in the refugee camps in Tindouf inside Algeria. This not the first time that the polisario propaganda machine uses misinformation as a weapon to destabilize Morocco, using the “same traditional words” to seek the international community ,and international opinion public sympathy ,in this respect the most untrue statements I have ever read in my life is about some fairly small demonstrations that took place in towns such as Dakhla, Smara,organized by local polisario sympathisers, in addition to other demonstrations by sahraoui students at Moroccan universities, they hardly attracted a few hundreds people This agitation was used by polisario propaganda machine to “ denounce” the genocide and the slaughter, and moreover qualified this agitations here and there as“sahraoui intifada”.
As much as I believe in the human rights principle, as much as I know that the principle of human rights is respected in the kingdom of Morocco, much more than in the refugee camps in Tindouf inside Algeria .The way the leadership of polisario is dealing with sahraouis detained in the Tindouf refugee camps against their will. And on the top of all that the fact they are closely controlled by both the polisario military services ,and the Algerian military services so that, they remain in the camps against their will , and against the basic principles oh human rights, basically they are not allowed to leave the refugee camps in order to join their families, and go back to their homeland in the territory of Moroccan Sahara.( at least for those who have expressed their desire, and willingness to go back home where they belong)
The freedom of expression is the right not only for sahraouis but also for the whole Moroccan population whether they belong to the northern, or to the southern part of the Kingdom, provided that the law is respected being above every Moroccan citizen,and violence is not used as a mean to achieve goals, and also the national security is preserved.
The statement, which is undoubtedly part of the polisario propaganda machine is not convincing at all, having said that, let me through the sahraoui association of victims of human rights, to express my disappointment to the way sahraoui people are treated by the polisario military services. Everybody knows that our people in the refugee camps do not enjoy freedom of speech and expression, and that the polisario remains a totalitarian military, and political movement, with single party system, sole institutions structure. I would like in the same context to express my anger to the fact that our people in Tindouf refugee camps (who depend on humanitarian aid donated by numerous UN organizations, and also international NGO’s) do not get much of the humanitarian aid, instead in most cases humanitarian food supply is sold on the black market in neighbouring countries by the polisario.
Unfortunately, you deliberately ignore the fact that Moroccan sahraoui enjoy much of freedom, and they lead a dignified life, eversince the problem of the Sahara became a conflict (thanks to the direct involvement of Algeria, which is now the undisputable policy maker of the polisario front) sahraouis all over the kingdom of Morocco were taken care of, on every single aspect of their lives ,they are Moroccan citizens and therefore they have to obey the law, which regulate life in the kingdom ,those who have opted to express their views by using violence deserve to be arrested ,and judged accordingly, nobody is above the law and particularly those who do not spare any efforts to destabilize the kingdom
AND THE REALITY OF THE LATEST EVENTS
IN THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO
BY: MOULAY AHMED MAOUELAININ
I have read the statement concerning the recent demonstrations which took place in few universities in the Kingdom of Morocco, signed by the president of the (ASVDH).
It is unfortunate that the statement, issued in EL-AYOUN, on monday10, 2007 did not explain the reasons behind these incidents. First of all the recent confrontation at the Rachidia, Agadir, and even Casablanca universities has involved sahraoui students, and amazighi students and others, they all opted to use violence against each other, to express their political differences, in fact the Moroccan police have kept low profile, until incidents in question got violent to the point that security and students life was endangered.
Your statement is seen as a purely propaganda for sahraoui separatists whether they live in the territory, or in the refugee camps in Tindouf inside Algeria. This not the first time that the polisario propaganda machine uses misinformation as a weapon to destabilize Morocco, using the “same traditional words” to seek the international community ,and international opinion public sympathy ,in this respect the most untrue statements I have ever read in my life is about some fairly small demonstrations that took place in towns such as Dakhla, Smara,organized by local polisario sympathisers, in addition to other demonstrations by sahraoui students at Moroccan universities, they hardly attracted a few hundreds people This agitation was used by polisario propaganda machine to “ denounce” the genocide and the slaughter, and moreover qualified this agitations here and there as“sahraoui intifada”.
As much as I believe in the human rights principle, as much as I know that the principle of human rights is respected in the kingdom of Morocco, much more than in the refugee camps in Tindouf inside Algeria .The way the leadership of polisario is dealing with sahraouis detained in the Tindouf refugee camps against their will. And on the top of all that the fact they are closely controlled by both the polisario military services ,and the Algerian military services so that, they remain in the camps against their will , and against the basic principles oh human rights, basically they are not allowed to leave the refugee camps in order to join their families, and go back to their homeland in the territory of Moroccan Sahara.( at least for those who have expressed their desire, and willingness to go back home where they belong)
The freedom of expression is the right not only for sahraouis but also for the whole Moroccan population whether they belong to the northern, or to the southern part of the Kingdom, provided that the law is respected being above every Moroccan citizen,and violence is not used as a mean to achieve goals, and also the national security is preserved.
The statement, which is undoubtedly part of the polisario propaganda machine is not convincing at all, having said that, let me through the sahraoui association of victims of human rights, to express my disappointment to the way sahraoui people are treated by the polisario military services. Everybody knows that our people in the refugee camps do not enjoy freedom of speech and expression, and that the polisario remains a totalitarian military, and political movement, with single party system, sole institutions structure. I would like in the same context to express my anger to the fact that our people in Tindouf refugee camps (who depend on humanitarian aid donated by numerous UN organizations, and also international NGO’s) do not get much of the humanitarian aid, instead in most cases humanitarian food supply is sold on the black market in neighbouring countries by the polisario.
Unfortunately, you deliberately ignore the fact that Moroccan sahraoui enjoy much of freedom, and they lead a dignified life, eversince the problem of the Sahara became a conflict (thanks to the direct involvement of Algeria, which is now the undisputable policy maker of the polisario front) sahraouis all over the kingdom of Morocco were taken care of, on every single aspect of their lives ,they are Moroccan citizens and therefore they have to obey the law, which regulate life in the kingdom ,those who have opted to express their views by using violence deserve to be arrested ,and judged accordingly, nobody is above the law and particularly those who do not spare any efforts to destabilize the kingdom
lundi 14 mai 2007
corcas :a vital player in the western sahara conflict
CORCAS : A VITAL PLAYER IN THE WESTERN
SAHARA CONFLICT
BY : Moulay Ahmed Maouelainin
The coming weeks would be decisive as to the future of Western Sahara, the Moroccan diplomacy is expected to perform with conviction, professionalism, and close coordination with different “players» in the process of achieving a final settlement.
In this particular context, CORCAS (royal advisory council for Saharan affairs) is in a position to play a vital role in terms of directly dealing with all sahraouis whether they are in the territory or in the refugee camps in Tindouf, inside Algeria or anywhere else around the world.
CORCAS is composed of 140 members, including 14 women, appointed by the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, who represent an ethnic, political, and tribal cross-section of Moroccan society, including the father of Polisario leader Mohamed abdelaziz.
In his founding speech, which took place in Laayoune on the25th of march 2006, the King said “I have decided to give fresh momentum to this organ, in its new composition, entrust it with a new mandate and endow it with an enhanced status, so that it may together with public authorities, and elected institutions, defend the Moroccan ness of the Sahara, and express the legitimate aspiration of my beloved subjects”
CORCAS primary task is to seek input from all parties affected by the 30 year old political stalemate to reach the most effective path towards autonomy for the Western Sahara within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty
CORCAS is an institution that contributed substantially in the elaboration of the Moroccan autonomy proposal, deals with the economic, social, and cultural development in the territory. And defend the Maroccanity of the Sahara at the local, national, regional, and international levels. One of the main tasks of the CORCAS is to convince all sahraoui populations to massively adhere to the autonomy project put forward by Morocco to the UN, and hopefully would be the basis of any future direct dialogue between parties concerned.
After less than two years of its creation, CORCAS becomes an important player in the Western Sahara conflict. The international media, NGO’s, elected institutions all over the world are so interested in the council. This interest felt nationally, regionally, and internationally shows the importance of such an institution, and its direct impact within sahraoui populations, and international community, to the point that when CORCAS sneezes the Polisario catch cold
The composition of the CORCAS reflects a tribal equilibrium, local elected members, representatives of civil society, and others. The CORCAS strategic policy in terms of the western Sahara conflict, is basically to avoid any mediatic confrontation with Algiers .IT is always mentioned as “a friendly country” or as “the sister country” in the CORCAS political speech, it sees its role mainly within the framework of sahraouis, and opts to deal directly with sahraouis, where ever they are; and particularly those who have been refugees in the Tindouf camps for the last three decades. The systematic refusal of the leadership of the Polisario to engage in an informal dialogue with the CORCAS is seen by Chairman Khali Hanna Ould Er-Rachid as “conjonctural”, he insists that the Polisario does not represent all sahraouis, and that the majority of sahraouis living under Moroccan sovereignty fully and unconditionally support the autonomy project. In fact, he is determined to spare no efforts with other members of the council to convince Polisario of the utility of autonomy.
In this respect CORCAS chairman called on Algeria in so many occasions to help ease dialogue with sahraouis in its territory ,he even asked the Algerians not to set obstacles to the UN organization ,and to encourage “our brothers living in its territory to engage in dialogue with us so as to come out the impasse»
the secretary general of the royal advisory council for Saharan affairs doctor Maouelainin Ben Khalihanna Maouelainin in an interview with “ TEL QUEL “ weekly magazine on April 15th,2006 said “parents of all polisario officials pledged allegiance to Moroccan King’s, only a cursed son would break this allegiance” he added “ our mission is to hold talks with all the inhabitants of the southern zone, wherever they are, in order to allow them to come back to homeland”
CORCAS is empowered to communicate with the inhabitants of the Sahara, and with the Polisario in Tindouf camps or elsewhere. The emphasis of the strategic policy of the CORCAS relies on the willingness of its members to start of the ground an informal dialogue with the Polisario, among others, those who have expressed openly their rejection to their leader strategy towards the Western Sahara issue. The tribe and family links between sahraouis from both sides is a vital clue to open up channels of communication and dialogue. CORCAS is seriously engaged in making a positive impact on the camp of the “independentists”, many are convinced of the seriousness of the Moroccan Substantial Autonomy Proposal, and others are in the process of considering the project.
Today Polisario is loosing momentum; it does not appear that it has much chance of winning the present diplomatic battle, following the failure of its own proposal, and the content of the security council that calls upon for a direct negotiations with a view to reaching a political and final settlement to the dispute over western Sahara. All the signs indicate that it will weaken, if the status quo remains. The military and political leadership of the Polisario is well aware of the fact the Moroccan Substantial Autonomy proposal is an advanced form of self-determination.
Establishing a form of meaningful informal open dialogue between these two institutions (CORCAS,and POLISARIO) representing sahraouis, could turn to be a golden opportunity to start of the ground an overall formal dialogue between parties concerned, aiming at reaching a final and just political settlement.
SAHARA CONFLICT
BY : Moulay Ahmed Maouelainin
The coming weeks would be decisive as to the future of Western Sahara, the Moroccan diplomacy is expected to perform with conviction, professionalism, and close coordination with different “players» in the process of achieving a final settlement.
In this particular context, CORCAS (royal advisory council for Saharan affairs) is in a position to play a vital role in terms of directly dealing with all sahraouis whether they are in the territory or in the refugee camps in Tindouf, inside Algeria or anywhere else around the world.
CORCAS is composed of 140 members, including 14 women, appointed by the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, who represent an ethnic, political, and tribal cross-section of Moroccan society, including the father of Polisario leader Mohamed abdelaziz.
In his founding speech, which took place in Laayoune on the25th of march 2006, the King said “I have decided to give fresh momentum to this organ, in its new composition, entrust it with a new mandate and endow it with an enhanced status, so that it may together with public authorities, and elected institutions, defend the Moroccan ness of the Sahara, and express the legitimate aspiration of my beloved subjects”
CORCAS primary task is to seek input from all parties affected by the 30 year old political stalemate to reach the most effective path towards autonomy for the Western Sahara within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty
CORCAS is an institution that contributed substantially in the elaboration of the Moroccan autonomy proposal, deals with the economic, social, and cultural development in the territory. And defend the Maroccanity of the Sahara at the local, national, regional, and international levels. One of the main tasks of the CORCAS is to convince all sahraoui populations to massively adhere to the autonomy project put forward by Morocco to the UN, and hopefully would be the basis of any future direct dialogue between parties concerned.
After less than two years of its creation, CORCAS becomes an important player in the Western Sahara conflict. The international media, NGO’s, elected institutions all over the world are so interested in the council. This interest felt nationally, regionally, and internationally shows the importance of such an institution, and its direct impact within sahraoui populations, and international community, to the point that when CORCAS sneezes the Polisario catch cold
The composition of the CORCAS reflects a tribal equilibrium, local elected members, representatives of civil society, and others. The CORCAS strategic policy in terms of the western Sahara conflict, is basically to avoid any mediatic confrontation with Algiers .IT is always mentioned as “a friendly country” or as “the sister country” in the CORCAS political speech, it sees its role mainly within the framework of sahraouis, and opts to deal directly with sahraouis, where ever they are; and particularly those who have been refugees in the Tindouf camps for the last three decades. The systematic refusal of the leadership of the Polisario to engage in an informal dialogue with the CORCAS is seen by Chairman Khali Hanna Ould Er-Rachid as “conjonctural”, he insists that the Polisario does not represent all sahraouis, and that the majority of sahraouis living under Moroccan sovereignty fully and unconditionally support the autonomy project. In fact, he is determined to spare no efforts with other members of the council to convince Polisario of the utility of autonomy.
In this respect CORCAS chairman called on Algeria in so many occasions to help ease dialogue with sahraouis in its territory ,he even asked the Algerians not to set obstacles to the UN organization ,and to encourage “our brothers living in its territory to engage in dialogue with us so as to come out the impasse»
the secretary general of the royal advisory council for Saharan affairs doctor Maouelainin Ben Khalihanna Maouelainin in an interview with “ TEL QUEL “ weekly magazine on April 15th,2006 said “parents of all polisario officials pledged allegiance to Moroccan King’s, only a cursed son would break this allegiance” he added “ our mission is to hold talks with all the inhabitants of the southern zone, wherever they are, in order to allow them to come back to homeland”
CORCAS is empowered to communicate with the inhabitants of the Sahara, and with the Polisario in Tindouf camps or elsewhere. The emphasis of the strategic policy of the CORCAS relies on the willingness of its members to start of the ground an informal dialogue with the Polisario, among others, those who have expressed openly their rejection to their leader strategy towards the Western Sahara issue. The tribe and family links between sahraouis from both sides is a vital clue to open up channels of communication and dialogue. CORCAS is seriously engaged in making a positive impact on the camp of the “independentists”, many are convinced of the seriousness of the Moroccan Substantial Autonomy Proposal, and others are in the process of considering the project.
Today Polisario is loosing momentum; it does not appear that it has much chance of winning the present diplomatic battle, following the failure of its own proposal, and the content of the security council that calls upon for a direct negotiations with a view to reaching a political and final settlement to the dispute over western Sahara. All the signs indicate that it will weaken, if the status quo remains. The military and political leadership of the Polisario is well aware of the fact the Moroccan Substantial Autonomy proposal is an advanced form of self-determination.
Establishing a form of meaningful informal open dialogue between these two institutions (CORCAS,and POLISARIO) representing sahraouis, could turn to be a golden opportunity to start of the ground an overall formal dialogue between parties concerned, aiming at reaching a final and just political settlement.
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